Novel Alloying Elements for Ni Cermet Anodes in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells-Improved Thermal Stability

Princeton Docket # 12-2824

With high electrical efficiency, long-term stability, fuel flexibility, low emissions, and relatively low cost, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) hold great potential for widescale deployment of fuel cell technology.  The anodes of most solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are made of nickel/yttria-stabilized zirconia composites (Ni cermets).  Performance degradation of SOFCs with time, which is partially due to the adhesion failure of the interface between Ni and tetragonal/cubic zirconia, has greatly limited large-scale application of this technology.

Using first-principles quantum mechanics simulations, researchers at Princeton University have discovered alloying elements that should improve the adhesion of zirconia to nickel, and thus significantly extend the lifetimes of the Ni cermet anodes.  With extended lifetimes, SOFCs may finally have the durability required for large-scale deployment.

Applications 

·        Alloying Elements for Ni Cermet Anodes in SOFCs

Advantages         

·        Extended anode lifetimes

·        Enhanced thermal reliability

Faculty Inventor

Emily Ann Carter is Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor in Energy and the Environment and Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering & Applied and Computational Mathematics at Princeton University.   She is also the Founding Director of the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University.  Professor Carter's primary research lies along the interface of chemistry, materials science, applied physics, and applied mathematics.  Much of her work focuses on predicting the behavior of materials, analyzing properties of materials on the atomic level and then using that information to inform models at higher length scales for a comprehensive view of materials behavior. She has received many honors for her work, including election to the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science (2009), the National Academy of Sciences (2008), and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2008).

Intellectual Property Status

Patent protection is pending.